CD/DVD Driver for TP770x

[gngr555]

I have a ThinkPad 770x with the OEM SR-8171-L DVD drive. Problem is that the Easy Set-Up menu DVD-1 test does not work and the Windows 98 operating system does not detect the drive. I assume that the CD/DVD driver is missing. Is this correct? What is the name of the driver file - I might be able to find it on the hard drive? In case I cannot find the driver, where can I get it? Thanks

[confus-ed]

... I assume that the CD/DVD driver is missing. Is this correct? What is the name of the driver file ...

Nope, there isn't a 'special' driver for ANY CD/DVD device (though for other functions like writing or playing DVDs you need 'other' s/w which may or may not correctly be referred to as a driver, but to just read as a 'CD' most definately no extra 'drivers' required !) inside any incantation of windows from 98 onwards, windows uses the same driver files as it does for any other connected IDE device (i.e. hard disks). So that ain't it !

Knowing what version of windows we are talking about sure would help, as would any other symptoms, & the 'how' of how we arrived 'here' too

& edit ...

Welcome to Windrivers gngr555

[gngr555]

Nope, there isn't a 'special' driver for ANY CD/DVD device (though for other functions like writing or playing DVDs you need 'other' s/w which may or may not correctly be referred to as a driver, but to just read as a 'CD' most definately no extra 'drivers' required !) inside any incantation of windows from 98 onwards, windows uses the same driver files as it does for any other connected IDE device (i.e. hard disks). So that ain't it !

Knowing what version of windows we are talking about sure would help, as would any other symptoms, & the 'how' of how we arrived 'here' too

& edit ...

Welcome to Windrivers gngr555

How we arrived "here"? I purchased a used TP770x from someone I thought that I could trust! The version of Windows 98 is Second Edition 4.10.2222A. Since posting the CD/DVD problem, I found and installed the "UltraBay Utility Driver for Windows 95/98/Me". The TP770x still does not detect the CD/DVD drive on power-up. However, if I hot swap the drive from the UltraBay and then plug it back in, the Device Manager then recognizes the drive as a DVD and the Explorer shows a "CD" drive icon. However, the UltraBay considers the "device type" as a "CD drive" not a DVD. The TP then cannot read a CD (Explorer cannot show the file directory on the CD) and the machine proceeds to freeze.

Progress? Thanks for your help - to an exiled Brit in the USA.

[confus-ed]

Can you set the bios of the tp to try & boot from the dvd drive & see if can boot from your windows cd ? this'll give us a good idea of whether its the unit or s/w somehow ...

[gngr555]

Can you set the bios of the tp to try & boot from the dvd drive & see if can boot from your windows cd ? this'll give us a good idea of whether its the unit or s/w somehow ...

I set the bios start-up looking in order at the CD, external floppy, and then hard drive. Insert Windows 98 CD and then restarted. The CD whirred, the (empty) floppy drive clicked, and then it started up using the hard drive. As usual, the TP did not detect the CD/DVD drive as being present.

[confus-ed]

I set the bios start-up looking in order at the CD, external floppy, and then hard drive. Insert Windows 98 CD and then restarted. The CD whirred, the (empty) floppy drive clicked, and then it started up using the hard drive. As usual, the TP did not detect the CD/DVD drive as being present.

There's usually an option in most bioses which stop the bios booting from a source other than the ones you picked for boot order, try setting all those to only allow cd boot ... any other way we can test this unit? like trying with a.n.other tp ?

Here's the 'troubleshooting' steps from the IBM website anyway

Try the 'Easy-Setup' described ... the fact that windows manages to find it as a cd & then freeze shows at least it vaguely works !(it should still proceed to work as a CD without any extra s/w), maybe the bios needs updating? but I pressumed this was previously working ? (or supposedly?)

[gngr555]

There's usually an option in most bioses which stop the bios booting from a source other than the ones you picked for boot order, try setting all those to only allow cd boot ... any other way we can test this unit? like trying with a.n.other tp ?

Here's the 'troubleshooting' steps from the IBM website anyway

Try the 'Easy-Setup' described ... the fact that windows manages to find it as a cd & then freeze shows at least it vaguely works !(it should still proceed to work as a CD without any extra s/w), maybe the bios needs updating? but I pressumed this was previously working ? (or supposedly?)

I changed the start-up sequence to only use the CD drive. Inserted the Windows disk, and restarted. On start-up, the screen showed a floppy drive diagram with an arrow indicating that a disk needs to be inserted. I hit F1 an goot an arror code I9990305 - which I have discovered means "no bootable device" (see http://www.thinkpadclub.com.cn/jishu...ce/37l5152.pdf)

Prior to starting this thread, I looked at the IBM website and tried to to the CD drive "troubleshooting" steps. I found that the diagnostic test would not run on the CD device, which was "greyed out".

I assume that both of these testing failures are due to the fact that the TP cannot identify the CD drive as being present. I think that it is time to return the machine to the place that I got it - and to get a refund! Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks

[Diver01]

Have you checked to see if there is a firmware upgrade for your DVD Drive? I have a A21M StinkPad with a DVD Drive and I believe there have been 5 DVD Firmware Releases for it... Just a thought..

[confus-ed]

Methinks if this is so

I think that it is time to return the machine to the place that I got it - and to get a refund!

.. then do ! at the very least the interface to any cd/dvd is 'iffy' & or the unit itself is damaged somehow... whatever it is if you just bought it you shouldn't have to be fixing it